Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110083132 | Mechanism for Prioritized Scheduling of Virtual Machines - A mechanism for prioritized scheduling of virtual machines is disclosed. A method includes receiving control of a virtual machine (VM) managed by a virtual machine monitor (VMM) on a host machine and executing a prioritization task involving a hardware emulation of the VM, determining an interactivity statistic for the VM based on a hardware type factor of the hardware emulation of the VM, calculating an interactivity rate for the VM based on the determined interactivity statistic for the VM, sending the calculated interactivity rate to a management daemon if the calculated interactivity rate is different than a previous interactivity rate for the VM, re-calculating priority numbers for each of the VM and all other VMs managed by the VMM based on the calculated interactivity rate, and providing the re-calculated priority numbers to a scheduling algorithm of a scheduler of the host machine for the scheduler to utilize in prioritizing the VM process. | 04-07-2011 |
20110131443 | Mechanism for Automatic Adjustment of Virtual Machine Storage - A mechanism for automatic adjustment of virtual machine (VM) storage is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes stopping, by a host computing device, a virtual machine (VM) hosted by the host computing device from running upon detecting a write error due to lack of storage on the VM, communicating, by the host computing device, an out-of-storage notification from a hypervisor of the host computing device to a host management agent, and sending, by the host computing device, data associated with the out-of storage notification and the VM to a host controller that manages the host computing device, wherein the host controller causes storage for the VM to be increased. | 06-02-2011 |
20110202917 | Mechanism for Downloading Hypervisor Updates Using Existing Virtual Machine-to-Host Channels - A mechanism for downloading hypervisor updates using existing virtual machine (VM)-to-host channels is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes receiving one or more updates to the hypervisor from the VM via a hypervisor update component, verifying that the one or more received updates are valid, and installing the one or more received updates if the one or more received updates are valid. | 08-18-2011 |
20110214122 | Mechanism for Optimizing Initial Placement of Virtual Machines to Reduce Memory Consumption Based on Similar Characteristics - A mechanism for optimizing initial placement of virtual machines (VMs) to reduce memory consumption based on similar characteristics is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes identifying characteristics of a new virtual machine (VM) to be placed by a host controller on one of a plurality of candidate host machines and, for each candidate host machine of the plurality of candidate host machines, communicating with one or more VM agents each associated with a VM of one or more VMs hosted by the candidate host machine to identify characteristics of the one or more VMs. The method further includes identifying the candidate host with the most VMs having similar characteristics to the new VM. | 09-01-2011 |
20110214123 | Mechanism for Optimal Placement of Virtual Machines to Reduce Memory Consumption Based on Shared Images - A mechanism for optimal placement of VMs based on shared images is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes identifying a virtual machine (VM) image of a new VM to be placed by a host controller on one of a plurality of candidate host machines, for each candidate host machine of the plurality of candidate host machines, identifying a VM image for each VM hosted by the candidate host machine, and determining the candidate host with the most VMs having identical VM images to the new VM. | 09-01-2011 |
20110231710 | Mechanism for Saving Crash Dump Files of a Virtual Machine on a Designated Disk - A mechanism for saving crash dump files of a virtual machine (VM) on a designated disk is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes configuring an operating system (OS) of a VM managed by a hypervisor of a host machine to store any crash dump files created by the VM to a designated crash dump virtual disk associated with the VM but accessible outside of operations of the VM, determining that the VM experienced a crash event, stopping operations of the VM, and obtaining a crash dump file created by the VM that details the crash event from the designated crash dump virtual disk. | 09-22-2011 |
20110246786 | Mechanism for Automatically Encrypting and Decrypting Virtual Disk Content Using a Single User Sign-On - A mechanism for automatically encrypting and decrypting virtual disk content using a single user sign-on is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes receiving credentials of a user of a virtual machine (VM) provided as part of a single sign-on process to access the VM, referencing a configuration database with the received credentials of the user, determining encryption and decryption policy settings for the VM from the configuration database, and at least one of encrypting or decrypting, by the VM, files of the VM based on the determined encryption and decryption policy settings. | 10-06-2011 |
20120047383 | Mechanism for Manager and Host-Based Integrated Power Saving Policy in Virtualization Systems - A mechanism for a manager and host-based integrated power saving policy in virtualization systems is disclosed. A method of the invention includes receiving configuration and power information of a host machine from a management agent on the host machine, performing a macro-level power saving scheduling algorithm that takes into consideration the received configuration and power information of the host machine, and requesting that the host machine alter a number of active running CPU cores as part of the macro-level power saving scheduling algorithm. | 02-23-2012 |
20120151115 | Automatic Alignment of Write Requests in Virtualization Systems - A method and system for automatically aligning the location of a write request of a guest operating system (OS) to a storage boundary of a computer system that hosts the guest OS. The computer system detects an indication of misalignment between a partition of the guest OS and a storage boundary in data storage. In response to the indication, the computer system shifts the partition by a number of bytes to align a starting location of the partition to the storage boundary, and shift locations of subsequent data access requests of the guest OS by the same number of bytes. | 06-14-2012 |
20120159469 | MECHANISM FOR DOWNLOADING GUEST SOFTWARE UPDATES BY A HYPERVISOR - A method and system for providing guest software updates to a host computer system. The hypervisor in the host computer system downloads an update to guest software that runs on a virtual machine associated with the hypervisor. The hypervisor determines the content of the update to be sent to the virtual machine. The hypervisor then sends the content of the update to the virtual machine via a dedicated channel between the hypervisor and the virtual machine. Thus, a guest without external networking or even no network stack can be updated. | 06-21-2012 |
20120179855 | Mechanism for Memory Change Tracking During Migration of Virtual Machine (VM) with VM-Controlled Assigned Peripherals - A mechanism for memory change tracking during migration of a virtual machine (VM) with VM-controlled assigned peripherals is disclosed. A method of the invention includes informing a write tracking module of an interest by a hypervisor of a host machine in a specific memory location associated with a peripheral device that is controlled by a VM managed by the hypervisor, receiving notification from the write tracking module that the identified specific memory location has been modified by the peripheral device, and marking a memory page of the specific identified memory location as dirty in order for the migration of the memory page to be repeated as part of a migration process of the VM to a destination host machine. | 07-12-2012 |
20120180042 | Mechanism for Memory State Restoration of Virtual Machine (VM)-Controlled Peripherals at a Destination Host Machine During Migration of the VM - A mechanism for memory change tracking during migration of a virtual machine (VM) with VM-controlled assigned peripherals is disclosed. A method of the invention includes receiving a state of a VM-controlled peripheral device running on a destination host machine from an origin host machine, wherein the VM is executed by a hypervisor of the destination host machine, providing the received state of the peripheral device to at least one of the VM, a memory of the VM, or the peripheral device in order to cause the peripheral device to be restored to that state on the destination host machine, and interacting with the VM in order to cause the VM to start the peripheral device in the restored state. | 07-12-2012 |
20120180043 | Mechanism for Memory State Transfer of Virtual Machine-Controlled Peripherals During Migration of the Virtual Machine - A mechanism for memory change tracking during migration of a virtual machine (VM) with VM-controlled assigned peripherals is disclosed. A method of the invention includes interacting with a VM executed by a hypervisor of a origin host machine in order to cause the VM to prevent a state of a peripheral device controlled by the VM from changing, receiving the state of the peripheral device from at least one of the VM, a memory of the VM, or the peripheral device, and transferring the obtained state of the peripheral device to a destination host machine as part of a migration process of the VM. | 07-12-2012 |
20130089106 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC SWITCHING OF A TRANSMIT QUEUE ASSOCIATED WITH A VIRTUAL MACHINE - Methods and systems for managing multiple transmit queues of a networking device of a host machine in a virtual machine system. The networking device includes multiple transmit queues that are used by multiple guests of the virtual machine system for the transmission of packets in a data communication. A hypervisor of the virtual machine system manages the switching from one or more transmit queues (i.e., old transmit queues) to one or more other queues (i.e., new transmit queues) by managing a flow of packets in the virtual machine system to maintain a proper sequence of packets and avoid a need to re-order the transmitted packets at a destination. | 04-11-2013 |
20130100960 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC SWITCHING OF A RECEIVE QUEUE ASSOCIATED WITH A VIRTUAL MACHINE - Methods and systems for managing multiple receive queues of a networking device of a host machine in a virtual machine system. The networking device includes multiple receive queues that are used to receive packets intended for a guest of the virtual machine system and pass the packets to the intended virtual machine. A hypervisor of the virtual machine system manages the switching from one or more receive queues (i.e., old receive queues) to one or more other receive queues (i.e., new receive queues) by managing the provisioning of packets from the receive queues to one or more virtual machines in the virtual machine system. | 04-25-2013 |
20130104124 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC MAPPING OF QUEUES FOR VIRTUAL MACHINES - A method and system for managing multiple queues of a networking device associated with a host machine in a virtual machine system. The networking device includes multiple dedicated queues and shared queues that are used by multiple guests of the virtual machine system for the transmission and/or receipt of packets in a data communication. A hypervisor of the virtual machine system manages the assignment of the multiple queues to the multiple guests by dynamically mapping addresses of the virtual machines based on determination of a load placed on the queues. | 04-25-2013 |
20130145218 | Mechanism for Saving Crash Dump Files of a Virtual Machine on a Designated Disk - A method for saving crash dump files of a virtual machine (VM) on a designated disk is disclosed. The method includes associating, by a hypervisor that virtualizes a plurality of virtual machines (VMs), each VM of the plurality of VMs with a crash dump disk that is solely dedicated to the VM, wherein each crash dump disk is located separate from its associated VM. The method further includes configuring, by the hypervisor, an OS of each VM with a crash file path to the crash dump disk associated with the VM, and configuring, by the hypervisor, each VM of the plurality of VMs to generate crash dump files for the VM upon a crash event of the VM and store, via the crash file path, the generated crash dump files to the crash dump disk associated with the VM. | 06-06-2013 |
20130227553 | HIBERNATION VIA PARAVIRTUALIZATION - A system and method for hibernating virtual machines (VMs) are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a computer system that executes a hypervisor and a virtual machine (VM) receives a request from a first virtual processor of the VM to put the VM to sleep. In response, the hypervisor stops a second virtual processor of the VM. | 08-29-2013 |
20130227554 | HYPERVISOR-DRIVEN HIBERNATION - A system and method for hibernating virtual machines (VMs) are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a computer system that executes a hypervisor and a virtual machine (VM) determines that the virtual machine is to be put to sleep, wherein the determining is performed without involvement of a guest operating system hosted by the virtual machine. In response, the hypervisor stops a first virtual processor of the VM and persists the state of the first virtual processor. | 08-29-2013 |
20130227555 | MANAGEABLE EXTERNAL WAKE OF VIRTUAL MACHINES - A system and method for waking hibernating virtual machines (VMs) are disclosed. In particular, a host operating system (OS) may decide to wake a hibernating VM in response to a message received by the host, such as an incoming networking packet, a message generated by an external event (e.g., a hardware device fault, an interrupt, etc.), etc. In accordance with one embodiment, the decision whether to wake a hibernating VM may be based on a sender of the message. | 08-29-2013 |
20130227556 | GUEST-DRIVEN HOST EXECUTION - A system and method by which a host computer system can run executables on behalf of a virtual machine (VM) are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, an executable of a guest application of a virtual machine is received by a hypervisor and is run via the host operating system on behalf of the virtual machine. | 08-29-2013 |
20130326110 | HYPERVISOR-DRIVEN PROTECTION OF DATA FROM VIRTUAL MACHINE CLONES - A system and method for protecting secure data from virtual machine clones are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a hypervisor transmits a message to a guest operating system hosted by a first virtual machine, where the message identifies a memory location for a secure datum. After the transmission of the message, when the hypervisor receives a direct-copy command to clone the first virtual machine, the hypervisor creates a second virtual machine via direct copy, where the second virtual machine is not provided access to the secure memory location during its creation. | 12-05-2013 |
20130326172 | PROTECTION OF DATA FROM VIRTUAL MACHINE CLONES VIA PARAVIRTUALIZATION - A system and method for protecting secure data from virtual machine clones are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a hypervisor receives a message from a guest operating system hosted by a first virtual machine, where the message identifies a memory location (e.g., of main memory, of a storage device, etc.) for a secure datum. After the hypervisor receives a direct-copy command to clone the first virtual machine, the hypervisor creates a second virtual machine via direct copy, where the second virtual machine is not provided access to the secure memory location during its creation. | 12-05-2013 |
20130326179 | HOST MEMORY LOCKING IN VIRTUALIZED SYSTEMS WITH MEMORY OVERCOMMIT - A system and method for handling requests by virtual machines (VMs) to lock portions of main memory are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a host operating system (OS) of a computer system receives a request by the guest OS of a VM to lock a portion of main memory of the computer system. The host OS determines whether locking the portion of main memory violates any of a set of constraints pertaining to main memory. The host OS locks the portion of main memory when locking does not violate any of the set of constraints. The locking prevents any page of the portion of main memory from being swapped out to a storage device. The host OS can still swap out pages of main memory that are not allocated to this VM and are not locked by any other VM. | 12-05-2013 |
20130326508 | DISPLAY POWER MANAGEMENT FOR VIRTUAL MACHINES - A system and method for display power management in a virtualized environment are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a hypervisor receives a notification that a host operating system has received a command to dim a display, and forwards the notification to a guest operating system hosted by a virtual machine. The hypervisor receives from the guest operating system a first signal that indicates that the hypervisor is to notify the host operating system to refrain from executing the command. The hypervisor then transmits a second signal that notifies the host operating system to refrain from executing the command. | 12-05-2013 |
20130326509 | ROBUST NON-SHAREABLE RESOURCE ACCESS UNDER LIVE VIRTUAL MACHINE CLONING - A system and method are disclosed for preventing concurrent access by a virtual machine and a clone of the virtual machine to a resource in a non-shareable state. In accordance with one embodiment, a hypervisor receives a command to clone a virtual machine, and determines whether any resource used by the virtual machine is in a non-shareable state (e.g., the virtual machine holds a lock on a resource, a resource comprises memory that stores secure data, etc.). When any resource used by the virtual machine is in a non-shareable state, the hypervisor delays cloning of the virtual machine until all resources used by the virtual machine are in a shareable state. | 12-05-2013 |
20130332920 | LIVE VIRTUAL MACHINE TEMPLATE CREATION - A system and method are disclosed for creating a virtual machine template from a live virtual machine. In accordance with one embodiment, a computer system creates a live snapshot of a virtual machine, and creates a clone of the virtual machine based on the live snapshot. The computer system then initiates execution of the clone, shuts down the clone, and creates a virtual machine template based on the clone, where the virtual machine template enables the creation of another virtual machine that corresponds to the live snapshot of the original virtual machine. | 12-12-2013 |
20140068603 | AUTOMATIC PROCESSOR HOTPLUG IN VIRTUALIZED COMPUTER SYSTEMS - A system and method for allocating additional virtual processors to virtual machines (referred to as “automatic processor hotplug”) are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a guest operating system of a virtual machine detects when a measure of system load exceeds a threshold. In response, the guest operating system transmits a request to a hypervisor for an additional virtual processor for the virtual machine. | 03-06-2014 |
20140068604 | DISPLAY POWER MANAGEMENT IN DISTRIBUTED VIRTUALIZED SYSTEMS - A system and method for display power management in a virtualized environment are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a hypervisor that is executed by a first computer system receives a notification that a host operating system of a second computer system has received a command to dim a video display of the second computer system, and forwards the notification to a guest operating system of a virtual machine hosted by the first computer system. The hypervisor receives from the guest operating system a first signal that indicates that the hypervisor is to notify the host operating system to refrain from executing the command. The hypervisor then transmits a second signal that notifies the host operating system to refrain from executing the command. | 03-06-2014 |
20140068605 | HYPERVISOR HANDLING OF PROCESSOR HOTPLUG REQUESTS - A system and method are disclosed for determining whether to grant requests for additional virtual processors for a virtual machine (referred to as “processor hotplug requests”). In accordance with one embodiment, a hypervisor receives a request from a guest operating system of a virtual machine, where the request is for an additional virtual processor for the virtual machine. The hypervisor then determines whether or not to grant the request based on a policy. | 03-06-2014 |
20140137108 | DYNAMIC PROCESSOR UNPLUG IN VIRTUALIZED COMPUTER SYSTEMS - A system and method for withdrawing virtual processors from virtual machines (VMs) are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a hypervisor executed by a computer system detects when a measure of system load for a virtual machine falls below a threshold. In response, the hypervisor withdraws a virtual processor from the virtual machine. | 05-15-2014 |
20140215461 | LOW-LATENCY FAULT-TOLERANT VIRTUAL MACHINES - A system and method are disclosed for managing a plurality of virtual machines (VMs) in a fault-tolerant and low-latency manner. In accordance with one example, a computer system executes a first VM and a second VM, and creates a first live snapshot of the first VM and a second live snapshot of the second VM. The computer system detects, after the creating of the first live snapshot and the second live snapshot, a failure that affects the executing of the first VM, and in response destroys the first VM and the second VM, creates a third VM from the first live snapshot and a fourth VM from the second live snapshot, and initiates execution of the third VM and the fourth VM. An output transmitted by the first VM to the second VM during the creating of the first live snapshot and the second live snapshot is not blocked. | 07-31-2014 |